Hope has been in short supply lately — the murder of a diplomat in Libya, the ongoing savagery in Syria, Iran's apparent march toward nuclear weaponry, Midwest drought, climate change, the pain of the unemployed — the list is long.

Global cinema is all over Irvine this fall, with two major film festivals running concurrently.
The Silent River Film Festival, on through Sunday, endeavors to bridge the divide between East and West by showcasing South Asian films. Created by...